I Spy

Photographer: Tia L. Clarke

Insufficient

Almost good
isn't good enough
no one says, oh remember her, her poem was almost accepted into the journal.

And when you push
but you don't push through
there are no medals won, you lose, no matter how hard you pushed.

People say it isn't about winning
sometimes it's just about finishing
but I could finish a million poems, and if none are read, finishing didn't matter.

I'm just not good enough
Insufficient

...Just thinking

Peeking Out

Photographer: Tia L. Clarke

Writer's Delight

for Donnielle ~that Mackey friend of mine~

don't stifle
just grow
let it flow
like tears
kiss cheeks
trickle words
onto pages
blank ones
can't speak

tell the color
of rage
love
hope
trust

Trust you

"everything I write is shitty"
pity won't do
you can only
do you

writers write
cause it's a need
feed on it
fill up
put on a few pounds
haven't written in days
malnourished now

Project Speak

Addressed constantly
by politicians
who undress us
Detest us
do anything to
Defy us
Deny us
freedom of speech
if it’s against them
just men
making
Super human promises
Dismissed
after elected
neglected
Youngsters infected
PLP! FNM!
too young to vote
but look at them
followers of Christie and Ingraham
at ten
Cause my mom is
my dad is
born this
rallied together
crowd filled with mirth
brain dead
from birth
they know
no better

Trained to keep quiet
government knows best
but I look around
and the country’s
still a mess
Take a chance
think...
politicians
prey on the weak
so I’m invested
in Project Speak

©Tia L. Clarke 2008

Church Top

Photographer: Tia L. Clarke